Editorial

The grass in our front lawn is dying in spots. We started out in the spring with a beautiful solid green lawn, but gradually it began to get thin in certain areas, and now there is nothing there but dirt. The rest of the lawn is still healthy and vigorous. What happened? Why did the lawn die in some places and not in others? The sycamore trees that hang over the front lawn are so thick that there are certain areas of the lawn that the sun never reaches. In the spring, when the leaves were just coming on the trees, the sun reached every inch of lawn, but not now. When the sun couldn’t get through, the lawn died.

Isaiah tells us that “all flesh is grass,” and David declares “As for man, his days are as grass.” Could we be like the lawn? When the Son of Righteousness shines in our lives we are healthy and spiritually vibrant, but what happens when the Son no longer radiates in our lives? We, like the lawn, first become thin and straggly and finally we just fade away. Now it isn’t the sun’s fault that our lawn is dying. It rises every morning in the east the same as always, and it shines just as brightly as it ever did. The problem is that a tree has gotten in the way between the sun and the lawn. When Jesus no longer shines in our lives, it isn’t his fault. He is always willing to shine if we will just bask in his glory but we can allow the world to get in the way between the Son of Righteousness and ourselves. This is spiritual suicide.

The moon has no light of itself; it can only reflect the light that it receives from the sun. We, too, have no light of ourselves but reflect the light that comes from the Son of God. Ever so often there is an eclipse of the moon. This happens when the earth comes between the sun and the moon, and during this eclipse the moon goes completely dark. Once again the reason for the darkness is that earth prevents the sun from shining on the moon.

Certainly we can see the spiritual significance of this. In these two analogies, the tree in our front yard and the earth both represent the things of the world which come between us and the Son. When we no longer receive his healing beams we cease to grow, our light goes out, and we spiritually die. The people of the world like the dark for their deeds are evil. They prefer the shade away from the searching light of Jesus Christ, but what about us ?

There is a happy answer to our lawn problem. All we have to do is thin out and prune back the branches of the tree so the sun can come through again, and our lawn will grow back to the thick green carpet it once was. So too with the eclipse of the moon, be patient and wait until the earth moves out of the way, and the moon will shine as bright as ever again.

The big question is, are we cutting and pruning out of our lives the things that are coming between us and the Son? As long as they remain in the way we are in serious trouble spiritually. It may hurt to cut and prune, but it is a matter of life and death. If we decide to leave the tree alone, we have told Jesus that we prefer the things of the world to his light, and naturally we will spiritually die. This is a terrible thought, but what is worse, it is actually happening in the lives of some of Christ’s brethren. Let us each examine ourselves and cut out all those things that may he keeping the light of the Son of God from bursting into our lives. If we have conscientiously exposed our lives to the light of the Son of God, then Jesus when he comes will look upon us with pleasure and choose us “to shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever and ever.”

“Try it, you’ll like it!” This saying is on the lips of most Americans due to a clever ad man’s use of it. It reminds us of the story told by Islip Collyer of the ship-wrecked men drifting helplessly in a life raft, half mad with thirst and with no land in sight. They frantically signal to a distant ship for water and receive a curt three word reply, “Dip and drink.” Wondering at the strange answer they tasted the water and found it fresh. The raft had drifted by the coast of South America, and they were near the mouth of the mighty Amazon, whose waters flow over the surface of the sea for many miles before they are finally mingled with the salt. All they had to do was try it to find that they would like it.

This same thought can be elevated to spiritual things. Many young people raised in the Sunday school hesitate at making the big step of baptism. Although they know the truth and perhaps even feel that to some degree they are a part of the ecclesial activities, nevertheless they are “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” What a glorious difference Christ makes! The joy and happiness that comes from being in covenant relationship with him! “0 taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him,” declares David. Those who haven’t tasted God are like those on the raft dying of thirst while being surrounded by fresh water.

This same thought also applies to those that are in Christ. Some ask for an opportunity to serve God when there are opportunities all around them. We can sit in the raft thinking there is nothing to do when everywhere we look there is something we could and should do for Christ. We hesitate when we should be trying it. Perhaps we are waiting for one big spectacular thing to do for Jesus when all the time we could be handing out cups of cold water in his name. It may not be much but we know that it is well pleasing to him. The only picture we are given of the judgment seat shows Christ commending those who did little things to some of his other brethren and sisters and condemning those who did not. From this we see that the righteous did little thoughtful things while those classed as the wicked did nothing. It is obvious that sinful acts will keep us out of the kingdom unless they are forgiven but it is safe to say that probably most of those excluded from the kingdom of God will be turned away for sins of omission.

Some in the kingdom will have been guilty of the most serious crimes such as murder, lying, and adultery. Now David, Peter and Rahab will not be in the kingdom because they did these things but because they repented of these things, were forgiven and then went on to do positive things for God. Jesus addressing the Pharisees said, “Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” This was a terrible thing to say, thought these self righteous Pharisees, for they felt that they were the spiritual leaders of the people. They loved to walk around in their flowing robes and receive the praise of man but the plain truth was they didn’t do anything for God. They said and did not. They bound heavy burdens on others but would not move one of their fingers to help. They will stand at the judgment seat of Christ and watch the publicans and sinners they thought unworthy of their help go into the Kingdom and they themselves will be thrust out.

Let us learn from the mistakes of others and get busy ourselves. There is plenty to do. Look around, you’ll find it. “Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Try it, you’ll like it.

“Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. And when we are right, make us easy to live with.” This quotation is from a prayer given by Peter Marshall in his capacity as Chaplain of the United States Senate. This reminds us of the prayer of the little boy who prayed, “God please make all the had people good and the good people nice.”

These prayers point up two problem areas we all face. First of all it is possible for us to be wrong. This may come as a shock to some who have filed away a set of beliefs so long ago that they are quite unwilling to re-evaluate them to even see if they are correct. We constantly find this when we try to preach “the Truth” to others. They are so sure of their beliefs in an immortal soul and Triune God that they are unwilling even to listen. We must be sure that we do not have a wrong belief or opinion so deeply imbedded in us that we too are unwilling to listen. God is looking for humble hearts, for those who have a contrite spirit, and trembleth at His word. Paul was completely wrong and until he was struck down on the road to Damascus he was so set in his ways that not even the preaching of Stephen was able to convert him.

Let us be sure that we are not like Paul was in his unconverted state. He was sincere, no one could question that, but he was wrong and in his zeal he was breathing out threatening’s and slaughter against the disciples making havock of the church. It is possible for brethren of Christ in these last days to be just as wrong on a certain point and to be just as stubborn as was Paul. Let us follow the wise advice of Gamaliel who counseled the Jews to be patient lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Many sincere Christadelphians have at times fought against God by either holding a wrong position or defending those who held one.

The second danger we face is in being right but not easy to live with, in being good but not nice. It is possible to be so right that the poor sinner can’t stand to be around us. Isaiah speaks of some who said “come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.” We can be so sure that we are standing firm with a pure faith that we assume an air superiority which lets those we oppose know that they are not welcome in our midst, though we be brethren. Surely this is just as abominable in God’s sight as the more obvious sin. Remember that true love is not puffed up and does not vaunt itself. Anything less than pure love is of no more use than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. True love is kind and suffers long. This means we are patient with our erring brethren and we continue in “meekness to instruct those who oppose themselves, praying that God will peradventure give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”

We need to remember that we are going to need all the mercy we can get and with what measure we mete, it shall be measured to us. If the Lord should mark iniquities, none of us shall stand but there is forgiveness with God. Let us be sure there is love and forgiveness with us and mercy and love for those that may be wrong when we are right. Let us be nice as well as good, and easy to live with when we are right. Let us be nice as well as good, and easy to live with when we are in the right for very soon the Judge of all the earth will be here and we had better be one of those smiting ourselves on our breasts pleading for forgiveness than those with heads held high telling him how righteous we’ve been.

“Why art thou cast down 0 my soul ?” asks David. He was just like us. He had his moments of joy and elation when he danced before the Lord with all his might but he also had times when he was so discouraged he didn’t know what to do.

Perhaps if we see how David and other faithful men of God reacted when they had the “blues” we can learn to cope with our times of depression as they did. David turned his thoughts to God when he was cast down. He, like us, could sit down and count his blessings and realize that he shouldn’t be discouraged but nevertheless he was, so he asked himself this question, “Why am I so cast down ? What can I do to get up again? It is good to notice that David properly assessed his feelings. He was discouraged. He freely admits this to himself and to God for he said “0 my God, my soul is cast down within me.” The first step to curing any illness is to recognize it exists and face it squarely. They say no alcoholic can be helped until he admits that he is indeed an alcoholic. Well David admitted he was discouraged but he did not stop there for that in itself will riot cure it.

David then turned to God for help. He records his thoughts for our benefit. He tells himself, “Hope in God: For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” It is interesting to remember that at this particular time David was sick in bed. Psalms 41, 42 and 43) When we are sick it is particularly easy to become discouraged but the “blues” can strike at any time and those who are physically well also have to learn to cope with them.

When discouraged the thing to do is turn to God. Read the Bible. Pray fervently. It will change things. It did for David. It did for Jonah. Speaking of being “down in the dumps” we can hardly imagine anyone being more down than Jonah and look what he did while in the belly of the whale. He prayed to God, but notice his prayer. He quoted from several Psalms as well as Ecclesiastes. Now what does this tell us? It tells us that Jonah had not only read his Bible, he had memorized much of it and could call it to mind. Obviously Jonah did not have a Bible in his hand when he was swallowed by the whale and even if he had it would have been too dark to read it where he was.

We cannot always have a Bible in our hand either but if we have recorded its beautiful messages in our mind then we can bring them up at will to help us in our times of trouble.

We don’t know if Jesus took his scrolls with him when he went into the wilderness but we can be sure that his response to the temptations he endured were right from his mind. He did not have to stop and look up Deuteronomy 6:16 to say “It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

We can see why Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ when we observe that in one little short talk that she made as she entered the house of Elisabeth, she quoted from five different Psalms as well as Malachi, Ezekiel and First Samuel. She could only do this because she memorized these passages and could call them to mind at will.

If we commit comforting Bible verses to memory we too can recall them at a moment’s notice when we are in trouble or cast down and it will lift us tin again. It is not a new thought but it may be one we have not been practicing. Like all good ideas, this will work only if we do. Let us daily fill our minds with Godly thoughts we can draw upon at a moment’s notice. The next time our mind churns from anxiety and tension just remember Isaiah 26:3,4. If we don’t know what that says, find out. Its soothing words can change our lives.

The captain stood on the bridge of his ship gazing out across a sun lit sea of glass with his eyes fixed upon the storm clouds he saw in the distance. Although the sea was calm he knew they were sailing right into a hurricane and there was nothing to do but go full steam ahead. In another few hours his mighty ship was being tossed to and fro like a cork. The following day the storm was past and once again the nose of the ship was cutting through the glassy sea.

One remark the captain said has stuck with us. He said, “When I am sailing in calm waters I know that rough seas are ahead of me and when I am in the midst of a storm I know that calm seas lie ahead.”

Life is like that. It certainly isn’t the same all the time. When we are in the midst of trouble and our anxieties are building up within us it is comforting to know that calm seas are ahead. It is also wise to remember when things are going well that now is the time to prepare for the rough seas that will surely come to us.

In one of our hymns we sing “with Christ in the vessel we smile at the storm.” We sing that with gusto but do we live it? When we are in the midst of a storm and our little boat is being tossed hither and thither do we really smile at the storm? We do if we have enough faith. That is the key to weathering the storms of life. Faith. If we really were in a boat with Jesus in the midst of a storm would we smile at it? His disciples did not. You will remember the incident on the Sea of Galilee when “there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he (Jesus) was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

Now one thing can be said for the disciples. When they were afraid they knew where to turn for help. They awoke Jesus and said, “Lord, save us: we perish.” How wonderful it is to know that Jesus is now wide awake and ready to hear our cries. David rejoiced in the knowledge that “He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

He that kept Israel will also keep us. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of what God told Joshua saying “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This knowledge should give us so much comfort that we can say boldly “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

When we fail to say this, it is because our faith is less than it should be. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith. Let us accept that rebuke when it applies to us and do as they did. They were forgiven for their shortcomings because they stayed as close to Jesus as they could. Luke tells us that the apostles said to Jesus, “increase our faith.”

They knew they needed more faith and asked Jesus to increase it for them. We need more faith and we should ask to have ours increased. Our request will he answered just as theirs was, but it won’t happen if we just sit back and do nothing. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The way to stay close to Jesus is by the reading of the Word and by prayer. Let us be sure we are faithful in doing this for if we are, then our faith will be increased and we can confidently sing out “With Christ in the vessel we smile at the storm.”